‘HIM’ Is a Dark, Beautiful, and Disturbing Watch

Director: Justin Tipping

Screenplay by Zack Akers & Skip Bronkie, and Justin Tipping

Producers: Ian Cooper, Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Jamal M. Watson

Executive Producers: David Kern, Kate Oh

Starring: Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies

Run Time: 1 hour and 36 minutes

Rating: R 

Where to watch: In Theaters

Release date:  September 19th, 2025

A Quarterback’s Dream

Cameron “Cam” Cade (Tyriq Withers) is the top quarterback prospect on the verge of stardom, a talent NFL scouts can’t ignore. His dream? To become the next GOAT, like his idol, multiple-championship, MVP-winning Savior’s quarterback, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). But an off-field injury threatens his health and professional aspirations, until Cam gets a once-in-a-lifetime offer: a week of training with Isaiah at the Saviors’ facility. It’s everything he’s ever wanted, until the experience pushes his limits and forces him to question his commitment to the sport.

Part Art Film, Part Fever Dream

HIM plays like part art film, part fever dream, delivering sharp commentary on the culture of football. Cinephiles will enjoy the striking visuals and creative direction, and it’s a movie that begs for the biggest screen you can find. Each of the five days is structured around Cam’s journey Day 1: “Fun,” Day 2: “Poise,” and so on—so you feel every step of his transformation. Here’s my review, and why you should catch the film in theaters this weekend. My advice: go for the IMAX upgrade.

Tyriq Withers Shines as Cam

Withers is magnetic as Cam, particularly in his family scenes with his brother, mother, and girlfriend. The pressure and anxiety he experiences are palpable, not just through his performance but through the cinematography and sound design. When Cam becomes overstimulated, the camera lingers on his face while his family’s voices echo, capturing the creeping sense of isolation and near-madness. After surviving the gauntlet of tests, he emerges more confident, equal parts beast and rival—almost frighteningly matched to Wayans’s Isaiah.

A short monologue about his father—the sacrifices, the practices, the memories reveals Cam’s vulnerability and the fractured masculinity instilled in him. His growth is subtle, surprising, and deeply human.

Marlon Wayans Breaks the Mold

Wayans is provides a powerhouse performance as Isaiah. Known for his comedic range, here he channels a mix of Al Pacino’s menace, Denzel Washington’s authority in Training Day, and a touch of Brian Dennehy’s grit from Gladiator (1992). His obsession with greatness and the relentless testing of Cam’s limits grows increasingly disturbing—for both the audience and Cam himself.

The training sequences are twisted: collecting bags of his own blood, administering drugs, even letting players get smashed in the face after every dropped ball. Yet there’s chemistry between Wayans and Withers, a mentor–mentee dynamic that emerges as Cam conquers each challenge. Isaiah’s dedication is also but relentless—he’s watching film whenever Cam sleeps, recovers, or parties. Football is his religion, a lifestyle that eclipses family and even God. That devotion intensifies until he finally shows Cam what it takes to become HIM (pun intended).

Lessons from the Game

One of the most compelling aspects of Isaiah’s character is how he teaches football history. From how not to be a “mascot” to the contributions of the Carlisle Indian Boys versus Yale in collegiate sports, he’s spitting game while putting Cam on the kind of deep knowledge of the sport that only a LeBron-level investment can match.

Visuals, Editing, and Cinematic Style

Beyond the performances, HIM dazzles with its editing, cinematography, and direction. The trailer hints at the cryptic, visually striking world the film inhabits, and the final product does not disappoint. Shades of green highlight greed, red emphasizes anger, and the use of X-ray and thermal imagery captures the brutal physicality of football—think Mortal Kombat-style bone-shattering shots. Every hit, every injury, every collision feels real. Tonal shifts throughout the film—from lighthearted to serious—mirror the psychological and physical journey of the players.

Behind the Scenes with Editor Taylor Joy Mason

Editor Taylor Joy Mason, who collaborated with director Justin Tipping, offered insight into the film’s creative process:

“A lot of the direction unfolded throughout the cut because the story evolved. What was most consistent was exposing the contradictions in professional sports. Sacrificing everything for greatness seems heroic, but at its core, it’s impossible without losing yourself or what makes life worth living. Capturing that tension and contradiction shaped the tonal shifts—from satire to seriousness—throughout the film.”

Mason also reflected on how her previous experiences prepared her for HIM:

“I assisted on big films before, but editing is different. This was one of the bigger projects I’ve cut on—bigger budget, bigger team. My previous work was subtle, full of subtext and nuance. HIM is audacious—my work is very visible, which was a little scary at first.”

She also discussed the film’s thermal sequences:

“We used a FLIR thermal camera alongside regular cameras. We could cut between them to create this X-ray vision effect. It’s poetic—showing what athletes experience every single game, the impact of injuries. The goal was spectacle and emotional impact.”

And when asked about sleeping through such chilling imagery, Mason admitted:

“You know what? I didn’t. That might be an issue—maybe a subject for my therapist. Honestly, I mostly slept because I was exhausted from work. But no, I didn’t really sleep thinking about the film.”

Conclusion

HIM is a film that truly explores football, reflecting the pressure of forging a path in spaces that seldom mirror our identities, the weight of community and family expectations, and the temptations of drugs, sex, and stardom. With standout performances from Wayans and Withers, and its unique visuals paired with disturbing imagery, the film makes you think more critically about athletes and the costs of greatness. It also explores fandom, celebrity, ownership, and the influence of agents, commenting on how the gift of being a top-tier athlete can be both a blessing and a curse, with career-making or life-changing implications. While the film covers a lot of ground, its late tonal shift may leave some viewers unsettled or confused. That said, I give it a 7/10.